Liquid ring compressor

ABSTRACT

A liquid seal compressor with control discs arranged transversely of the impeller and provided with a suction port and a pressure port, with a pressure chamber behind the pressure port and with a pressure delivery pipe on the pressure chamber, the pressure chamber being connected on one side with the pressure delivery pipe and on the other side with the pressure port, in which the part of the pressure chamber connected with the pressure delivery pipe is partially separated from the part connected with the pressure port by at least one wall descending into the zone of the pressure chamber filled with liquid.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 Segebrecht Nov. 13, 1973.

[54] LIQUID RING COMPRESSOR 3,228,587 1/1964 Segebrecht 417/68 1,529,815 3/1925 Siemen et al 415/53 T [75] lnvenm-r- 2 sellebrecht, Ellerbrwk, 2,808,780 10/1957 l-loekstra 415/213 T erman y FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [73] Asslgnee: s'emen 468,590 7 1937 Great Britain 415 53 T ltzehoe/Holstem, Germany [22] Filed: July 20, 1971 Primary Examiner--C. J. Husar Art -J L d 21 Appl. No 164,374 ey [57] ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data A liquid seal compressor with control discs arranged July 22, 1970 Germany P 20 36 295.2 tran versely of the imp ll r and provided with a suction port and a pressure port, with a pressure chamber [52] US. Cl 415/53, 415/213, 417/68, in h pre re p r and with a pressure delivery 181 /63 pipe on the pressure chamber, the pressure chamber [51] Int. Cl. F04d 5/00 ing connected on one side with the pressure deliv- [58] Field of Search 415/53 T, 213 T; ry pip nd n the o her side with the pressure port, 417/68; 181/35 R, 36 D, 63 in which the part of the pressure chamber connected with the pressure delivery pipe is partially separated [56] References Cit d from the part connected with the pressure port by at UNITED STATES PATENTS least one wall descending into the zone of the pressure 2,101,389 12/1937 Fischer 181/63 chamber fined hqmd' 2,860,722 11/1958 Gerstung 181/63 9 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PMENTED NOV 13 1973 SHEET 2 BF 3 LIQUID RING COMPRESSOR least part of the circulating liquid to escape through the pressure port, together with the compressed gas, to the working chamber of the machine. The noise made by these machines can be extremely unpleasant, so that special measures are necessary for damping the noise, in particular when these machines operate in work rooms or in the vicinity of dwelling places. The noise is particularly disturbing if, for example, a water seal compressor is running with a high vacuum on the suction side in the cavitation zone. Furthermore the noise can be very unpleasant if a liquid seal compressor delivers a relatively large quantity of gas at low compression ratio.

Vane-type pumps are known having-a rotary liquid seal in which a settling or separation chamber is arranged around the pump shaft, without special measures having been taken for effective sound damping.

In addition a water ring air pump having a settling chamber is known, in which the settling chamber is designed to also damp sound and comprises a vessel mounted on the overhead pressure delivery pipe of the pump and having a larger cross-section than that of the pressure delivery pipe..This arrangement is expensive constructionally and the air pump must deliver against a relatively high liquid column on its pressure or delivery side.

A liquid seal gas pump is known furthermore in which the pressure port is subdivided, together with the pressure chamber, into two sectors, for the purpose of separate discharge of liquid and gas, the lower rim of the pressure delivery pipe lying above the start of the pressure port. This arrangement has the purpose of reducing noise in the case of high vacuum on the suction side and is not suited therefore to all operating conditions of the machine.

In another known liquid seal gas pump the discharge of the liquid is likewise separated from that of the gas, that is to say the discharge of the liuqid takes place below the pressure port. Experience has shown that the separate discharge of liquid, or the separation of the gas from the liquid is not favourable in all cases with respect to sound damping, since the divided discharge is effected only haphazardly' and, depending on the operating conditions of the machine, by a manually or automatically operated valve which controls the liquid discharge.

The present invention has the object of damping with the simplest means those noises which occur on the delivery side of liquid seal compressors.

In accordance with the invention this object is achieved in that the part of the pressure chamber connected with the pressure delivery pipe is partially separated from the part connected with the pressure port by at least one wall descending into the zone of the pressure chamber filled with liquid.

In order to accomplish the sound damping of the liquid compressor with the pressure delivery pipe or the pressure port arranged in a most simple manner, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention the pressure port is in the upper region of the pressure chamber, the pressure delivery pipe is connected to the top of the chamber, and a wall arranged in the pressure chamber extends from the'top downwards to below the pressure port, or, in the case of an approximately central pressure delivery pipe, the wall arranged in the .pressure chamber extends downwards to below the lower rim of the pressure delivery pipe. With thepressure delivery pipe connected in the bottom of the chamber, in accordance with the invention two walls can be arranged such that a first wall extends from the top downwards to below the pressure port and a second wall, behind the first wall in terms of flow direction, rises from the bottom upwards to above the lower edge of the first wall.

If the pressure port is arranged in the lower region of the pressure chamber, for any reason not necessarily connected with the invention, then according to the invention in the case of the pressure delivery pipe connected to the top of the chamber, a first wall can rise upwards to above the pressure port and a second wall, behind the first wall in terms of flow direction, can descend downwards to below-the upper edgeof the first wall. If however in this case the pressure delivery pipe is approximately central, then a single wall extends downwards to below the lower rim of the pressure delivery pipe, whereas with the pressure delivery pipe connected to the bottom of the chamber a first wall extends upwards to above the pressure port and a second wall, in front of the first wall in terms of flow direction, extends downwards to below the upper edge of the first wall.

It can also be advantageous to arrange the pressure port partly in the lower region and partly in the upper region of the pressure chamber or, in other words, in

the central region of the pressure chamber. The arrangement of the wall or walls according to the invention is easily determined for this case, and can be carried out according'to requirements.

In accordancewith a further, advantageous feature of the invention at least one of the walls, forms a straight, curved or bent extension of the pressure delivery pipe. In this case it can be advantageous if the wall as an extension of the pressure delivery pipe does not cover the entire axial dimension of the pressure chamber. It consists advantageously of a length of pipe which leaves free a part of the axial dimension of the pressure chamber.

If necessary more than two walls can be arranged in the pressure chamber, which cover the axial dimension of the pressure chamber either wholly or in part and separate the space in connection with the pressure delivery pipe from the pressure port.

There will now be described, with reference to the attached drawings, several examples of compressors according to the invention, there being shown in FIGS. 1 to 18 nine different embodiments, each in two sections perpendicular to one another. In FIG. 1 and other Figures showing similar views, the suction chamber has been omitted from the right side of the Figure as it has no bearingon the present invention. In all figures like components bear the same reference numerals, as follows: impeller 1, control disc 2, suction port 3 as shown in FIG. lib, pressure port 4, pressure reservoir chamber 5, pressure delivery pipe 6, wall 7 and wall 8.

The main liquid level in the pressure chamber is indicated in the Figures having even numbers by a horizontal, broken line, although because of mixing of the flowing media on the way from the pressure port to the delivery pipe this liquid level will be disturbed or agitated.

The advantage which can be obtained in accordance with the invention lies in that using the simplest of means, although the production of noise is not prevented, nevertheless its spread is substantially damped, since the direct air-borne sound, which normally originates at the pressure port where the discharge mixture enters into the gas compartment of the pressure chamber, is prevented by at least one wall arranged in the pressure chamber from entering into the delivery pipe directly from the gas compartment of the pressure chamber and reaching the human ear.

The wall or walls, consisting for example of cast iron, must have satisfactory damping properties as must the housing wall of the pressure chamber itself.

Accordingly one wall is sufficient, when two walls are not required for hydraulic reasons as for example in FIG. 6, to damp the direct air-borne sound; however, multiple partition walls arranged in the manner of a labyrinth in the pressure chamber bring about better sound damping. Of course, noises emitted indirectly from the housing wall of the pressure chamber will be reduced only slightly and contribute their portion of total noise.

The dissipation of the remaining sound energy takes place in the discharge mixture which is located in front of and behind the wall or walls and in the delivery pipe. The gas-liquid mixture is the most suitable chiefly because of its inhomogeneity, for the noises to be damped have extremely varied frequencies.

in addition it is important that the discharge mixture in front of and behind the wall or walls and in the delivery pipe does not contain too large gas bubbles or too small drops or droplets of water, which could impair the sound damping. To this end, in the type of structure shown in FIGS. ll 4, 9, 10, and 13-18, the operating wall extends down to below'the pressure port or to below the lower rim of the delivery pipe and descends into the zone of the pressure chamber filled with liquid, that is to say if necessary it descends sufficiently far to ensure a reliable exclusion of sound. Similarly, in the type of structure shown in FIGS. 5, 6, l1 and 12, for this purpose the first wall extending to below the pressure port, can descend into the lower region of the pressure chamber, that is to say if necessary a considerable way down, while the other wall, which in terms of flow direction is behind the first wall, and which extends upwards to above the lower edge of the first wall, can be extended into the upper gas-filled zone of the pressure chamber and if necessary a considerable way upwards.

Again, in the type of structure shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it may be necessary to extend the first wall, extending upwards to above the pressure port, as far as into the upper gas-filled part of the pressure chamber, and according to requirements possibly a considerable way upwards, while the other wall, which in terms of flow direction is in front of the first wall, and extends downwards to below the upper edge of the first wall, can also extend deep into the lower liquid-filled zone of the pressure chamber.

How great a constriction of the flow cross-section must or should be effected through the above measures, for a reliable exclusion of sound, can be determined only by sound tests, taking into account the machine size.

Moreover the hydraulic capacities of the machine should not be too much impaired by the measures taken in respect of sound damping, so that for hydraulic reasons the minimum cross-section left for the mixture flow should not for example fall below the crosssection of the delivery pipe.

With such an arrangement of walls in the pressure chamber it .will be understood that the compressor must deliver against a small additional counter pressure in front of its delivery pipe; however, this disadvantage is slight compared with the advantages of the invention.

It will be appreciated that for sound damping a sufficient quantity of liquid must be present in the pressure chamber, and such a quantity may be controlled, for example in the case of a given housing diameter, by correct choice of the width of the pressure chamber in the axial direction, so as to have available a sufficient amount of space for the cushion of liquid.

I claim:

1. In a liquid seal compressor having an impeller, a pressure chamber at the outlet of the impeller and at least one control disc having a pressure port disposed between the impeller and the pressure chamber, the pressure port providing communication therebetween and a pressure delivery pipe communicating with the pressure chamber for delivery of the pressurized fluid, the improvement for reducing noise emanating from the pressure port from being transmitted to the pressure delivery pipe comprising a wall means within the pressure chamber partially separating the chamber into a first compartment communicating with the pressure port and a second compartment communicating with the pressure delivery pipe, said wall extending into the liquid in the bottom of the pressure chamber, whereby the magnitude of the sound waves emanating from the pressure port are substantially reduced before reaching the pressure delivery pipe.

2. The improvement in a liquid steel compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the upper part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is at the top of said second compartment, said wall extending downwardly from the top of the pressure chamber to a point below the pressure port.

3. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the upper part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is substantially at the mid-height of said second compartment, said wall extending downwardly to a point below the pressure delivery pipe.

4. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the upper part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is at the bottom of said second compartment, and wherein said wall means comprises a first wall extending downwardly from the top of the pressure chamber to a point below the pressure port and a second wall, behind said first wall in the direction of flow extending upwardly from the bottom to a point above the lower edge of said first wall.

5. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the lower part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is at the top of said second compartment and wherein said wall means comprises a first wallextending upwardly from the bottom of pressure chamber to a point above the pressure port and a second wall, behind said first wall in the direction of flow, extending downwardly from the top to a point below the upper edge of said first wall.

6. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the lower part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is substantially at the mid-height of said second compartment, said wall extending downwardly to a point below the pressure delivery pipe.

7. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the lower part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is at the bottom of said second compartment and wherein said wall means comprises a first wall extending upwards to a point above'the pressure port and a second wall, in front of said first wall in the direction of flow, extending downwardly to a point below the upper edge of said first wall.

8. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 whereinat least one portion of said wall means comprises an extension of the pressure delivery pipe.

9. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall means comprises a pipe. 

1. In a liquid seal compressor having an impeller, a pressure chamber at the outlet of the impeller and at least one control disc having a pressure port disposed between the impeller and the pressure chamber, the pressure port providing communication therebetween and a pressure delivery pipe communicating with the pressure chamber for delivery of the pressurized fluid, the improvement for reducing noise emanating from the pressure port from being transmitted to the pressure delivery pipe comprising a wall means within the pressure chamber partially separating the chamber into a first compartment communicating with the pressure port and a second compartment communicating with the pressure delivery pipe, said wall extending into the liquid in the bottom of the pressure chamber, whereby the magnitude of the sound waves emanating from the pressure port are substantially reduced before reaching the pressure delivery pipe.
 2. The improvement in a liquid steel compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the upper part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is at the top of said second compartment, said wall extending downwardly from the top of the pressure chamber to a point below the pressure port.
 3. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the upper part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is substantially at the mid-height of said second compartment, said wall extending downwardly to a point below the pressure delivery pipe.
 4. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the upper part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is at the bottom of said second compartment, and wherein said wall means comprises a first wall extending downwardly from the top of the pressure chamber to a point below the pressure port and a second wall, behind said first wall in the direction of flow extending upwardly from the bottom to a point above the lower edge of said first wall.
 5. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the lower part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is at the top of said second compartment and wherein said wall means comprises a first wall extending upwardly from the bottom of pressure chamber to a point above the pressure port and a second wall, behind said first wall in the direction of flow, extending downwardly from the top to a point below the upper edge of said first wall.
 6. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the lower part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is substantially at the mid-height of said second compartment, said wall extending downwardly to a point below the pressure delivery pipe.
 7. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure port is in the lower part of said first compartment and the pressure delivery pipe is at the bottom of said second compartment and wherein said wall means comprises a first wall extending upwards to a point above the pressure port and a second wall, in front of said first wall in the direction of flow, extending downwardly to a point below the upper edge of said first wall.
 8. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed iN claim 1 wherein at least one portion of said wall means comprises an extension of the pressure delivery pipe.
 9. The improvement in a liquid seal compressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wall means comprises a pipe. 